Fishermen at Deep Creek Lake are reporting excellent fishing for a wide variety of fish species this week and virtually no boat traffic on the lake. The water temperature is currently somewhere around 59-degrees and smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch, walleye and northern pike fishing is very good. The smallmouth bass and largemouth bass can be caught on a variety of tubes, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and soft plastics. Walleyes and yellow perch can be caught on small jigs and crankbaits or minnows. Alan Klotz sent in this report and a nice picture. Deep Creek Lake has been good for just about all species of fish found in the lake. Jake Knox took his son Chance out fishing for northern pike, and as you can see, was quite successful! The huge pike took a golden shiner, and measured in at 44.5 inches and 21.5 pounds!!

Alan Klotz also sent in this report and a few pictures concerning trout fishing. Savage Reservoir/Savage River Trophy Trout Fishing Area Update – Fisheries Service will be meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers, Upper Potomac River Commission, and Trout Unlimited this week to discuss the status of the Savage River Dam repairs and the potential to re-fill the reservoir and subsequent minimum flows to maintain the coldwater temperature regimes throughout the summer. The current conditions are variable flows to allow workers to do some necessary repair work in the dam, and at this writing a predictable 35 cfs flow should begin on May 7. However, fishing has been quite good this last week on the Savage as a prolific hatch of Blue Winged Olives has been coming off in the mornings to early afternoon. Also there are a few Blue Quills, Red Quills, and lots of midges are in the mix. Kenny Wampler and I fished in the late morning last week during a low flow period and the browns were feeding heavily on the Blue Winger Olives. Kenny holds a nice brown caught on a #18 BWO.

The trout seemed a bit naïve, as we landed several browns 12- 14 inches from one pod of rising trout. Later that evening, John Mullican and I returned, however only a few trout were rising, and the water level was increasing. We just changed tactics and continued to catch some real nice browns using heavily weighted woolly buggers and large streamers.

Central/Southern Region:

Largemouth bass are now actively spawning in most lakes, ponds, reservoirs and tidal rivers within the two regions. In some of the warmer waters the largemouth bass may actually be just about finished. It is not a good idea to fish on the nests while they are spawning; no sense in causing them extra stress and there are usually bluegills and other sunfish lurking near the nests just waiting for a chance to slip in and gobble up the unprotected eggs. Largemouth bass can be found outside the spawning areas in deeper waters near grass beds and will readily strike spinnerbaits or soft plastics. Hugh Southall came all the way from Massachusetts to visit his son in Silver Spring and just had to do a little father and son fishing at Rocky Gorge; when he caught and released this largemouth bass.

Fishermen are catching a mix of yellow perch, chain pickerel, largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish and carp in most of the tidal rivers and creeks within the regions. White perch have now moved into the lower sections of the tidal rivers. Channel catfish are very active and offer good fishing in many areas. The tidal Potomac River is currently showing a water temperature of about 70-degrees. The largemouth bass are shallow and are striking topwater lures now.

Eastern Region:

Fishermen are finding largemouth bass spawning in the shallower coves and edges in the most of the tidal rivers and lakes within the region. In some of the smaller ponds the largemouth bass are just about done spawning. Fishermen are finding largemouth bass away from the spawning beds over submerged grass in the deeper waters and outside the edges of spatterdock beds. Casting topwater lures over the grass beds or using soft plastics has been effective. Soon the largemouth bass will be finished protecting their nests and will be out roaming and looking to actively fed to build up their body reserves. The next few weeks after the spawning activity is over is an excellent time to fish for them since they will be so active. They will be found near most any kind of sunken wood, near old docks and piers or creek and river edges. Sadie Groves holds up a beautiful largemouth bass for the camera before releasing it back into the lake. Sadie caught this whopper of a largemouth bass while fishing with her dad at an Eastern Shore lake.

Fishing for channel catfish continues to be very good in a number of the regions tidal rivers such as the Sassafras, Chester, Choptank and Nanticoke. Chicken liver, nightcrawlers or cut bait such as herring are all good choices for bait. Bluegills are very active now and can be caught on small surface poppers with a light weight fly rod or ultra light spinning outfit.